Sivarasa-Ku Nan defamation suit resolved

KUALA LUMPUR: A defamation suit between Deputy Rural Development Minister R. Sivarasa and Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has been resolved after the former Cabinet minister retracted his allegation about the PKR leader making a political speech in a mosque.

“My client does not wish to prolong the issue and therefore he also withdrew the suit,” Sivarasa’s coun- sel Latheefa Koya told reporters yesterday after Tengku Adnan agreed to withdraw his remarks.

Sivarasa, who took legal action on June 13 last year, said in his statement of claim that Tengku Adnan’s remarks implied that he did not respect a Muslim’s place of worship by using a mosque for political purposes, especially since it was a fasting month then.

Tengku Adnan was said to have made the statement at a breaking of fast event at Masjid Jamek Alam Shah in Cheras here last year.

This was despite Tengku Adnan knowing that he (Sivarasa) had denied that he had given such political talk, the plaintiff said.

Tengku Adnan’s allegations were published in Malaysiakini.

Sivarasa had sought general and aggravated damages, interest and costs as well as an injunction order to prevent the defendant from reproducing the same defamatory words against him.

Latheefa, who was assisted by Shahid Adli Kamarudin, met yesterday with High Court Judicial Commissioner Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh who recorded the settlement in chambers.

She said the court made no order as to cost.

With this development, Tengku Adnan’s counsel Datuk S. Satharuban said all trial dates (fixed on Nov 19, 21 and 22) had been vacated.

In the consent judgment, the defendant agreed to withdraw his statement.

Sivarasa and Tengku Adnan were not present yesterday.